FIGWORT FAMILY 



THE FLOWERS: on thread-like stems, somewhat cup- 

 shaped, with flaring lobes. 



THE FRUIT: a capsule. 



The sandy border of one of Nantucket's deep blue 

 ponds is often glorified by these low, light green plants 

 with their yellow, vase-shaped flowers. 



SCROPHULARIACE^E FIGWORT FAMILY 



Gerardia pur pur ea, L. 



Magenta-purple 



Large Purple Gerardia. 

 August-October 



Gerardia: dedicated to the celebrated herbalist, John 



Gerarde, who lived in 1673. 

 Pur pur ea: Latin for purple or red. 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: dry, sandy soil but generally 

 more moist ground. 



THE PLANT: erect, one foot to two and one half feet high; 

 the stem slender, without hairs, roughish, somewhat 



THE LEAVES: usually widely spreading, opposite; narrowly 

 linear, sometimes with smaller ones in their axils; without 

 hairs on either surface; acute at the apex; with rough 

 margins. 



THE FLOWERS: in racemes, cup-shaped, with five wide 

 flaring lobes; pedicled; the calyx teeth somewhat lanceo- 

 late, one third to one half as long as the tube; the stamens 

 persistent. Albinos have been found. 



THE FRUIT: a capsule. 



Among the shorter plants of the Common or open damp 

 ground, there are few more alluring in form and colour 



